'Because I think it is a poor place to get a living in; nor do I see how we are going to get along here; it is hard hoeing for it any how.'
'Hard hoeing? I don't think so, Ned; it is a great deal harder doing nothing.'
'Perhaps it is; I should like to try it once, and see.'
'I believe it to be true what father often said, that "hard work made short nights and sweet food," and if we should give up work, what would become of mother and Ellen?'
'I will work for them, Jim, as long as I have got any fingers to work with; but we may hoe and hoe here all our lives, and what will it amount to?'
'I have been thinking a great deal about that, Ned, and therefore I spoke to you as I did to-day when you laughed so at me.'
'Well, tell me now, Jim; I promise you I will not laugh any more.'
'I have been thinking for some time, just as you say, Ned, "that we must hoe and hoe all our lives," and without much hope of making our condition any better.'
'Why you see, Jim, if there was any one here to buy what we raised, more than we wanted to eat, there would be some use in raising all we could.'
'I know it, Ned; and the great trouble is, that the folks all round here are as poor as we are, and the most of them not so well off; they live from hand to mouth, and would never want any thing we could raise.'